Samuel Brohl and Company eBook

Victor Cherbuliez
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 267 pages of information about Samuel Brohl and Company.

Samuel Brohl and Company eBook

Victor Cherbuliez
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 267 pages of information about Samuel Brohl and Company.
of great, velvety campanulas; of pretty violet asters, wrapped in little, cravat-like tufting, to protect them from the cold?  Besides, near the runnels, following whose borders the cattle have tracked out graded paths, there grows that species of immortelle called Edelweiss, an object of covetousness to every guest at the Baths.  Higher up, near the glacier approach, may be found the white heart’s-ease, the anemone, and the glacial ranunculus (spearwort); higher still, often buried beneath the snow, flourishes that charming little lilac flower, delicately cut, sensitive, quivering, as it were, with a cold, known as the soldanella.  To scrape away the snow and find beneath it a flower!  Are there often made such delightful discoveries in life?

Having said thus much, we must admit that the Rue de Saint Moritz does not resemble the Rue de la Paix of Paris.  We must also admit that the markets of the place are poorly supplied, and that in an atmosphere well calculated to stimulate the appetite the wherewithal to supply this cannot always be obtained.  We cannot have everything in this world; but it is by no means our intention to advise any one to take up his residence for life in the Engadine.  There must, however, be some charm in this valley, since those of its inhabitants who emigrate from it in their youth are very apt, after they have made some money, to return to pass their old age in their natal place, where they build some very pretty houses.

Mlle. Moriaz did not find Saint Moritz disagreeable; the wildness of the scenery and the rugged pines pleased her.  From the terrace of Hotel Badrutt she loved to gaze upon the green lake, slumbering at her feet, and it never occurred to her to grumble because it had the form of a wash-bowl.  She loved to see the cows returning at evening from the pasture.  The cowherd in charge marshalled home in the most orderly manner his little drove, which announced its coming from afar by the tinkling of the cow-bells.  Each one of the creatures stopped of itself at the entrance to its stall and demanded admittance by its lowing.  In the morning, when they were turned out again, they awaited the arrival of the entire herd, and fell into rank and file, each in its proper place.  The first time Mlle. Moriaz witnessed this ceremony, she found it as interesting as a first presentation at the theatre or opera.

There were several rainy days, which she employed in reading, painting, and making observations on the human animals of both sexes whom she encountered at the table d’hote.  She soon gained an increase of occupation.  With her, mind and heart were so constantly on the alert that it was impossible for her to remain a week in a place without discovering some work of charity to be performed.  A woman to whom she had taken a fancy, a little shopkeeper of the place, interested her in her daughter, who was destined to be a governess, and who desired to learn drawing.  Antoinette undertook to give her drawing-lessons, making her come every day to the hotel, and often keeping her there several hours.  Her pupil was rather dull of comprehension, and caused her to grow a little cross sometimes; but she always made amends to the girl by her caresses and sprightly talk.

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Samuel Brohl and Company from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.